The worst winter in Massachusetts. Is the weather bothering you? (Boston: hardwood floors, floors)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by BOORGONG

Up here in Quebecistan, rain is not welcome in mid-winter. It usually means that the temps
Will drop sooner rather than later, and cause damage, or at least ice over streets, sidewalks, driveways, etc…


Extreme cold days here are generally very sunny. Usually. That means that even minus 25C or -13F is fairly pleasant. I often walk on colder sunny days where the sun hits the back of my parka and gloves and I feel warm. Winter is, at least here, different every day, it's a state of flux. I like it better when there is a bunch of snow on the ground, though.

I do too. I believe I've read that snow reflects most sunlight during the day (whereas bare ground absorbs more) which makes the temperature reading a little colder, but it can feel warmer (like sitting in a sun patch) because of the strength of the reflected sun (part of the reason skiers get sunburns in less forested parts of the world and you see people in T-shirts on sundecks in the Alps in the middle of winter). My understanding of the physics is probably wrong, but there's a psychological component for me too - the bare trees and ground look and feel colder to me on a gray winter day than a blanket of snow on the ground and trees.

Boston's a weird place in the winter. It's not quite consistently cold and snowy enough to "take advantage" of the winter the same way places like Montreal, Quebec City, or Reykjavik do. But Copenhagen isn't too far off in terms of climate, snowfall, etc. and still manages to be a more active place in the winter. No reason we can't be better. Dressing the part makes a huge difference. One thing I've noticed in Montreal (and other cities where people don't let the cold grind outdoor life to a halt) is that parkas, mittens, snow boots, and heavy-duty winter hats are the norm. Apart from the Canada Goose crowd (who will sport the $1200 parka even if it's 60 degrees), I don't see nearly as many people dressed for comfort here in winter temps. Enough to walk from the house to the T or from the car to the store, but not enough to comfortably spend time outdoors.

[BOORGONG]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I do too. I believe I've read that snow reflects most sunlight during the day (whereas bare ground absorbs more) which makes the temperature reading a little colder, but it can feel warmer (like sitting in a sun patch) because of the strength of the reflected sun (part of the reason skiers get sunburns in less forested parts of the world and you see people in T-shirts on sundecks in the Alps in the middle of winter). My understanding of the physics is probably wrong, but there's a psychological component for me too - the bare trees and ground look and feel colder to me on a gray winter day than a blanket of snow on the ground and trees.

Boston's a weird place in the winter. It's not quite consistently cold and snowy enough to "take advantage" of the winter the same way places like Montreal, Quebec City, or Reykjavik do. But Copenhagen isn't too far off in terms of climate, snowfall, etc. and still manages to be a more active place in the winter. No reason we can't be better. Dressing the part makes a huge difference. One thing I've noticed in Montreal (and other cities where people don't let the cold grind outdoor life to a halt) is that parkas, mittens, snow boots, and heavy-duty winter hats are the norm. Apart from the Canada Goose crowd (who will sport the $1200 parka even if it's 60 degrees), I don't see nearly as many people dressed for comfort here in winter temps. Enough to walk from the house to the T or from the car to the store, but not enough to comfortably spend time outdoors.

Yes, I agree with dressing well for the part. In the oast couple of years, I’ve been more assiduous as far as walking twice a day, my dog is my master, lol.

I bought a good Canadian Parka, (Audvik) and boots (Pajar) and mittens for very cold weather when g’oves just won’t cut it. If you dress properly, you can spend a decent amount outdoors and feel pretty good, barring frozen exposed face.

Of course, the dreary grey days of winter are a drag when you have supped on them until
March. I just find that a lot of people treat winter like it is a disease, like a cancer you need to fight off until you are well again. I mean there are a lot of cities and towns that even in perfect weather, are deserted in terms of street life.

[OutdoorLover]

For what it's worth, in Quebec City (not the province):
- Average snowfall is 124in
- January 29 temps - average high/low are 20F/6F
- Winter solstice day length is 8hr32min
- Average 82hrs of sunshine in December

Whereas in Boston:
- Average snowfall is 53in
- January 29 temps - average high/low are 36F/23F
- Winter solstice day length is 9hr4min
- Average 142hrs of sunshine in December

Sounds like some of our winter lovers need to head north to get more of a good thing!

[BOORGONG]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

For what it's worth, in Quebec City (not the province):
- Average snowfall is 124in
- January 29 temps - average high/low are 20F/6F
- Winter solstice day length is 8hr32min
- Average 82hrs of sunshine in December

Whereas in Boston:
- Average snowfall is 53in
- January 29 temps - average high/low are 36F/23F
- Winter solstice day length is 9hr4min
- Average 142hrs of sunshine in December

Sounds like some of our winter lovers need to head north to get more of a good thing!

Right. Some might consider that triangle in Northwestern NY state where some cities experience the biggest yearly snowfall in the lower 48. Buffalo and Syracuse are pretty cold too!

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by BOORGONG

Right. Some might consider that triangle in Northwestern NY state where some cities experience the biggest yearly snowfall in the lower 48. Buffalo and Syracuse are pretty cold too!

I currently live at the northeast corner of Massachusetts, but I spent 5 years working at Kodak in Rochester, NY. Those suburbs can get really intense and very local "lake effect" snow off Lake Ontario - which happens when cold but warm-er air with very high humidity that's been picked up off the lake meets the colder air at the shoreline, and all that moisture condenses out as snowflakes. It can be difficult to see, and I mean amazingly so, because the air is just dense with these huge white crystals, and you can drive 15 miles south and see significantly less snow. Temperatures there were about the same as in Newburyport, MA but snowfalls were definitely heavier. My first winter, we had 3 feet fall overnight at my house in Victor - I open up the garage door in the morning to walk the dog - because I couldn't open the storm door - and I am looking at snow, not drifted, that is up to my hip and clear skies. This was an honest 36 inches of snow in less than 24 hrs. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that here - neither that total, nor that rate of snowfall to do that in just one night.

[BOORGONG]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I currently live at the northeast corner of Massachusetts, but I spent 5 years working at Kodak in Rochester, NY. Those suburbs can get really intense and very local "lake effect" snow off Lake Ontario - which happens when cold but warm-er air with very high humidity that's been picked up off the lake meets the colder air at the shoreline, and all that moisture condenses out as snowflakes. It can be difficult to see, and I mean amazingly so, because the air is just dense with these huge white crystals, and you can drive 15 miles south and see significantly less snow. Temperatures there were about the same as in Newburyport, MA but snowfalls were definitely heavier. My first winter, we had 3 feet fall overnight at my house in Victor - I open up the garage door in the morning to walk the dog - because I couldn't open the storm door - and I am looking at snow, not drifted, that is up to my hip and clear skies. This was an honest 36 inches of snow in less than 24 hrs. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that here - neither that total, nor that rate of snowfall to do that in just one night.

Yeah! That's pretty intense, lol.

[P Larsen]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

I currently live at the northeast corner of Massachusetts, but I spent 5 years working at Kodak in Rochester, NY. Those suburbs can get really intense and very local "lake effect" snow off Lake Ontario - which happens when cold but warm-er air with very high humidity that's been picked up off the lake meets the colder air at the shoreline, and all that moisture condenses out as snowflakes. It can be difficult to see, and I mean amazingly so, because the air is just dense with these huge white crystals, and you can drive 15 miles south and see significantly less snow. Temperatures there were about the same as in Newburyport, MA but snowfalls were definitely heavier. My first winter, we had 3 feet fall overnight at my house in Victor - I open up the garage door in the morning to walk the dog - because I couldn't open the storm door - and I am looking at snow, not drifted, that is up to my hip and clear skies. This was an honest 36 inches of snow in less than 24 hrs. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that here - neither that total, nor that rate of snowfall to do that in just one night.

That said, Rochester's lake effect dissipates fairly steeply in geographic terms once you get to and south of the Onondaga Escarpment that runs 15-20 miles south of the Niagara Escarpment. And while Syracuse can get heavy wet lake effect snow, Rochester's tends to be more powder.

[AtkinsonDan]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Snow requires shoveling, and snow/slush/ice make for hazardous driving conditions, and even hazardous walking conditions for older people.

Snow and the snow melting compounds that are used to melt ice on walkways are also notorious for getting tracked into houses and making a mess indoors.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by AtkinsonDan

Snow and the snow melting compounds that are used to melt ice on walkways are also notorious for getting tracked into houses and making a mess indoors.

That was the one thing I was happy about this winter up to this point. No salt/calcium in the house and on the carpet of the cars.

[simplexsimon]

I have not used my one-year-old snowblower once this season. It's still in the shed and I don't think I'll pull it out for tomorrow's event.